Parliament Spotlight

New Delhi, 9 January 2019  

TU Bill Introduced Despite Opposition

New Delhi, 8 January 2019 (INFA): The Government today was firm to introduce the Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha today, despite opposition from some members who primarily termed it as “unconstitutional” and also having been brought in “surreptitously” in the House.

The bill, which is aimed at amending the Trade Unions Act, 1926 to make provisions regarding recognition of trade unions, was opposed at the introduction stage by N K Premchandran of the RSP, who accused the Government of trying to take over the powers of Parliament and making rules for trade unions, which would ‘cut the throat of the working class.”  He said the Bill was “unconstitutional’ as it violated sections of Articles 23, 24, 43, 43(a) of the Constitution and that he had got a copy of the Bill only this morning at 8.30 a.m. whereas it should have been in the list of business the previous day. He also informed the House that 20 crore workers were on the street today against this move of the government and had called a two-day strike under the banner of 10 central trade unions, including AITUC, INTUC, MS and CITU.   

Likewise, A Sampath of the CPI said the government was trying to diminish the powers of the trade unions by way of bringing in rules and criteria to recognise trade unions and worse that it would make ir mandatory for employers to recognise trade unions. This he said kills the workers right to collective bargaining.

Shashi Tharoor of the Congress made three points: One, copies of Bill were not sent in advance (of two days) as per Rules and the Bill had been brought in ‘surreptitously’, even though the Speakar may use her discretion. But even then a statement by the Minister was necessary. Two, the Bill gives vast discretionary powers to the Government, wherein trade unions would be at the mercy of political dispensation and the right to recognise some and not others would be “political and subjective.” Three, it’s a shame that the government was trying to push the Bill and the solution lies in referring it to a Standing committee of Parliament. 

While some other MPs too sought to lodge their opposition to the Bill, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan would not allow it, given paucity of time and that other important matters had to be taken up (read Constitution amendment Bill to provide 10% reservation for economically backward sections) She ruled that the Bill needs to be first introduced and asked Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar to do so. Introducing it he said as there was no legal framework to recognise the trade unions in the country this legislation was necessary as it would address this lacunae. He also claimed that the strike had no major impact so far. 

Upset Left MPs demanding that the introduction of the Bill be put on hold, then staged a walkout to lodge their protest on the Government being adamant.---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)